A LECTURER in NUI Maynooth has received a CBE in Queen Elizabeth’s new year’s honours list.
Leitrim-born Seamus Taylor, who lectures in social policy in the department of applied social studies in NUIM, was honoured for his work in promoting equality in British society, notably through his work in the Commission for Racial Equality and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Much of his work was focused on the response to recommendations and legislation arising from the landmark Stephen Lawrence inquiry, which resulted from the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence by white youths, and for preparing and implementing a new statutory code on equality that affects 42,000 public bodies in Britain.
Announcing the award, British ambassador Julian King said: “Seamus Taylor has helped place equality at the heart of the UK legal system. He championed the public sector’s role in promoting equality and good community relations. Seamus’s work on involving diverse communities in policymaking, violence against women and in developing strategies to tackle hate crime has helped to ensure the most vulnerable in our society feel protected.”
Before joining the CPS he was director of strategy at the Commission for Racial Equality from 2001-2004. There he was responsible for the roll-out of a new statutory public duty to promote equality and reduce discrimination. In this capacity he prepared the code that was laid before parliament and oversaw its implementation through 42,000 public bodies across the civil service, local government, the health and education sectors and all other areas of public services.
In 2004 he joined the CPS as director of equality and diversity where he implemented the code he had previously drawn up.
The criminal justice system had received criticism for its handling of the Stephen Lawrence case, where in 1993 a black British teenager was stabbed to death while waiting with his friend for a bus, and the CPS was now at the frontline of improving the legal system’s performance in areas of fair treatment, community engagement and workforce representation.
The service was honoured with a civil service-wide award as a result of the notable improvements made between 2004 and 2009, as a result of the implementation of the code.
A native of Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, Mr Taylor was formerly a researcher with the ESRI, a social worker with the London Irish Centre Charity and head of policy: equality and diversity with Haringey Council in London.
He was also a member of the commission on the future of multi-ethnic Britain and a trustee of the Runnymede Trust. He joined the academic staff in NUI Maynooth in June 2009.
Commenting on the award, Mr Taylor said he was genuinely honoured to receive it, adding: “I believe that living together successfully in our diversity and ensuring fair treatment for all are key challenges for Britain and Ireland today. The progress that I contributed to in the UK was made possible by the support of the diverse communities I work with from whom I learnt so much.
NUI Maynooth president Prof John Hughes said: “All of Seamus’s colleagues at the university congratulate him on this most notable honour. His professional track record is exemplary, with unrivalled experience, and he has quickly become a highly valued faculty colleague.”
Anastasia Crickley, head of applied social studies at the university, congratulated Mr Taylor saying: “His contribution to the Crown Prosecution Service in Britain, as head of its equality and diversity division, was groundbreaking and practical.”